Burning sensation in the throat and esophagus

A burning sensation in the esophagus occurs for various reasons. Most often, this symptom indicates diseases of the digestive system. Sometimes heartburn appears if a person begins to have an endocrine disease, develops osteochondrosis, or problems with the vestibular apparatus. A symptom is a consequence of a disease or special condition of the body. Pregnant women often experience heartburn. Digestive problems are also observed in sensitive people who are susceptible to neuroses. In this case, a burning sensation in the esophagus after eating is noted due to prolonged stress.

Causes

A burning sensation in the throat can occur due to a variety of factors. The main reasons are considered:

Heartburn. Formed after gastric juice enters the digestive tract.
Stomach ulcer, gastritis. The laryngeal cavity is filled with hydrochloric acid, the amount of which increases sharply with gastritis.
Diseases caused by infections (tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis). In such cases, burning is a constant symptom, which intensifies with eating and drinking.
Diffuse goiter (enlarged thyroid gland).
Laryngeal cancer, tumors.
Bad habits: smoking, addiction to alcohol.
Allergy.
Pharyngeal neurosis (psychiatric disease).
Deformation associated with the profession (teacher, presenter, poor ventilation of the room, working with chemical materials).

Burning in the esophagus and throat

Many people sometimes experience heartburn, a burning sensation in the larynx, the area of the root of the tongue, or on the esophageal mucosa. All foods that irritate the gastrointestinal tract cause heartburn. However, there are some that cause the sphincter to relax, causing oxidized food to be thrown up and burn the throat. You may feel a heat in your throat if you immediately start exercising after eating. At the same time, your throat may burn. A burning sensation in the throat, pinching, and a feeling of a lump are symptoms of hypertension and bronchial asthma. They may be accompanied by nausea.

After meal

Many people feel that their throat is burning after eating (when swallowing food) or taking a horizontal position. If you have such symptoms, you should definitely contact a gastroenterologist. The feeling of heartburn, burning, belching, burning in the larynx can be signs of gastritis, ulcers, cholecystitis, and other diseases of the digestive system (including hernia). Experts do not recommend taking a horizontal position immediately after eating in order to avoid splashing out stomach contents into the esophagus, sour belching, burning, and further numbness of the mucous membrane.

Burning in the throat and tongue

The burning sensation may extend only to the root of the tongue and be accompanied by heartburn (a feeling that the larynx area is on fire). This condition is called acid reflux, when stomach contents back up into the esophagus. Hydrochloric acid, which contains gastric juice, causes inflammation of the mucous membranes and the root of the tongue. The regular occurrence of this condition is called gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Pain and burning in the throat

In neurology, there are manifestations such as burning or pain in the larynx. This may be a symptom of damage to the pharynx or nervous system. Often such manifestations are accompanied by laryngeal neurosis, which has three forms:

decreased sensitivity;
hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity);
paresthesia (unpleasant sensations - tingling, sensation as if pinching, burning, etc.).

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Burning throat due to thyroid gland

Discomfortable sensations near the thyroid gland indicate pressure on the trachea. The reason for this may be an enlargement of the gland or the development of neoplasms. Enlarging nodes cause a reaction in the nervous system, which leads to insomnia, increased sweating, and irritability. Disorders of the thyroid gland can lead to the following changes in the appearance and general condition of the patient:

the appearance of excess weight;
increased emotionality;
tachycardia;
dry skin;
sudden increase in body temperature;
suffocation;
frequent heartburn;
hand trembling.

Sore and burning throat

Infectious diseases of the respiratory tract can cause a sore throat, a burning sensation in the throat, and be accompanied by belching. For a speedy recovery, it is necessary to fight not the symptoms, but the causes of the burning sensation. It is important to understand why a sore throat or sore throat may occur in each specific situation, prescribe the correct treatment, and avoid possible complications. The key to successful therapy is identifying the disease at an early stage.

Who do they turn to for diagnosis?

With symptoms of burning in the throat, esophagus or stomach, consult a gastroenterologist. The doctor will help establish the causes of the appearance and conduct a full diagnosis of the pathology. To begin with, they are sent for an X-ray examination of the chest and abdominal cavity.

In addition, the following diagnostic methods are carried out:

Ultrasound of the chest and stomach;
gastroscopic examination of the mucous membrane;
blood and urine tests;
endoscopy of the esophagus;
pH-metry to determine the acidic environment of the stomach;
computed tomography of the esophagus and stomach;
stool analysis for helminths and other pathogens.

When the research is completed, based on the results obtained, the doctor makes a diagnosis. Otherwise, additional examinations are required depending on the suspected cause. Once a diagnosis is made, comprehensive treatment is prescribed.

Treatment

Methods for treating discomfort in the throat are related to the nature of its occurrence. They are divided into 3 categories:

Treatment of infections. If a rotavirus disease is diagnosed, then antibiotic therapy is necessary. While at home, you can use chamomile decoction for rinsing. Tablets and sprays for mouth irrigation, for example, Strepsils, Doctor Mom, Hexoral, can alleviate discomfort. They are used 3-4 times a day after meals to reduce pain. Actively used to relieve irritation of the mucous membrane, gargling with herbs (chamomile, eucalyptus, etc.).
Getting rid of allergic reactions. In addition to taking antihistamines, you should completely avoid interaction with the irritant and regularly wet clean the room. Cetirizine tablets are popular, they help with seasonal allergic rhinitis. The drug is contraindicated during pregnancy, lactation, hypersensitivity to the components.
Therapy of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. With such violations, it is necessary to correct the diet and restore the acid-base balance. Flax seeds can help, they need to be infused in water for 1 night. The decoction should be taken on an empty stomach for 14-16 days.

Diseases of the ENT organs

Often, a burning sensation and sore throat is caused by the development of septic inflammation. Pathogenic viruses, protozoa, viruses or fungi destroy the cellular structure of the ciliated epithelium, which inevitably leads to discomfort. The development of infectious ENT diseases is most often accompanied by fever, myalgia, hyperemia of the mucous membranes and general symptoms of intoxication.

A burning sensation in the throat is a typical symptom that may indicate the following respiratory diseases:

pharyngitis - inflammation of the lymphoid tissue, accompanied by soreness, pain and dryness of the mucous membranes of the pharynx; Irritation can be provoked by hot and polluted air, mechanical injuries to the throat and bad habits that reduce tissue reactivity, which contributes to the development of staphylococci, streptococci, adenoviruses, etc.;
laryngitis - septic inflammation of the tissues of the larynx, which most often occurs against the background of local hypothermia, spasm of the throat muscles, exacerbation of chronic diseases; the development of pathology is indicated by a burning sensation in the throat, incessant cough, hoarseness of voice, hyperemia and swelling of the mucous membranes of the oropharynx and vocal cords;
tonsillitis - an infection of the lymphatic pharyngeal ring, in which there is an enlargement of the tonsils, inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa and swelling of the palatine arches; in the case of acute tonsillitis, patients complain of dry throat, difficulty swallowing, pain and burning when eating food.

If discomfort is accompanied by febrile fever and the formation of white plaque on the walls of the pharynx, the most likely cause of the development of the pathology is bacterial inflammation, untimely treatment of which can lead to tissue abscess.

It should be noted that constant tickling and itching in the respiratory tract is a symptom of the development of oropharyngeal candidiasis.

Only a doctor can determine the causative agent of the infection and the optimal etiotropic drugs after conducting a bacterial culture from the throat.

Prevention

To reduce the feeling that your throat is on fire, you can take a number of preventive measures:

eating warm food, mainly purees or liquids;
reducing stress on the vocal cords;
air humidification, wet cleaning of premises;
avoiding alcohol-containing mouthwashes;
limiting the consumption of juices, alcohol and coffee;
carrying out inhalations and rinsing with antiseptic agents;
maintaining normal body weight;
timely consultation with a doctor in case of neurological and cardiovascular disorders;
the use of nitroglycerin for angina pectoris (without this, the throat may burn);
eating burnt sugar for coughing and pain when swallowing food. This lozenge is taken before and after meals, which leads to a mitigation of cough for 2-3 days.

Causes

Heartburn occurs with increased acidity. Additionally, there is a feeling that there is a lump in the throat, burning, dryness, mucus in the throat.

Ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
Long-term chemotherapy treatment.
Increased abdominal pressure.
Pregnancy.
Having bad habits.
Problems with the sphincter in the stomach.
Chronic disease in the pancreas.
Poor nutrition.

A large number of diseases of the digestive system lead to heartburn.

Consequences

Even if heartburn and stomach pain appear occasionally, it is necessary to be examined. After all, the slightest damage to the mucous membrane can lead to serious consequences. Most often, an inflammatory process develops. Without treatment, it progresses, the inflammation becomes chronic - gastritis develops. The affected mucous membrane can no longer perform its functions normally, so digestion slows down, belching, nausea, and flatulence appear.

In advanced cases, the acidic contents of the stomach eat away at the damaged mucosa and an ulcer forms. Moreover, there may be several such erosive formations. At the same time, disturbances in the functioning of the stomach negatively affect the functioning of all organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammation of the pancreas and duodenum develops, the liver and gallbladder suffer, and intestinal function is disrupted. Therefore, if your stomach occasionally gets hot, you should consult a doctor.

Symptoms and causes

An attack of heartburn appears unexpectedly in most cases. It may appear after eating sour, salty, fatty, fried or flour foods.

How much strength depends on the degree of damage to internal organs and the functioning of the gastric sphincter.

Sometimes the symptoms of heartburn in the throat can be almost unnoticeable, but in some people they are so intense that it is impossible to do without the use of medications.

This can manifest itself in the form of bursting, squeezing, intense pain, burning, suffocation; there is a feeling that there is a lump in the throat.

During an attack of heartburn, it is not advisable to go to bed, this will only worsen the condition.

Heartburn occurs due to the fact that the upper sphincter in the stomach does not work well and when a person takes a horizontal position, food along with hydrochloric acid flows into the esophagus even more quickly.

This causes severe pain, which will be difficult to eliminate even with the help of medications.

Additional symptoms of heartburn:

Frequent or constant burping.
Hoarseness.
Dyspnea.
Cough.
Bloating.
Sour taste in mouth.

Can your throat hurt from heartburn? Yes. The most common causes are the following:

Intense physical activity.
Frequent stressful situations.
Clothing that tightens the abdominal organs.
Having excess weight.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Overload of the vocal cords.
Heartburn can occur against the background of allergic reactions.

Possible complications

A burning sensation in the esophagus and behind the sternum can be a harbinger of serious pathology and lead to the development of severe complications. When a burning sensation appears against the background of a diaphragmatic hernia, there is a risk of strangulation of the contents of the hernial sac and its rupture, which is fraught with the appearance of mediastinitis or peritonitis.

Burning in the esophagus as a result of inflammation of the esophageal mucosa (esophagitis) can lead to the formation of extensive erosive lesions and cause acute or chronic bleeding from the esophagus.

A prolonged inflammatory process is a prerequisite for the development of precancerous conditions (Barrett's esophagus) and cancer (adenocarcinoma) of the food tube and stomach.

If you observe a burning sensation in the sternum, throat and esophagus, it is recommended to undergo an examination at a medical facility. You cannot self-medicate. This can aggravate the condition and cause complications of the disease.

Why is pharyngeal heartburn dangerous?

If heartburn occurs occasionally, it does not pose any particular danger to the body. But if symptoms are observed regularly, then this is a cause for concern.

It may feel like there is a lump in the throat, as if the throat is being squeezed, and there is no way to take a normal breath.

Food, together with hydrochloric acid, being in the esophagus, causes tissue burns and discomfort.

The process of swallowing food becomes difficult, which leads to problems with appetite, sudden weight loss, or even bleeding in the esophagus.

Ulcers that appear in the stomach and esophagus are overgrown with connective tissue, which significantly narrows the lumen. If scarring occurs in the esophagus, it can even lead to death.

Heartburn can cause the development of caries, and in advanced cases, cause oncology.

Thyroid diseases

Why might my throat “burn”? One of the common causes of discomfort in the respiratory tract is endocrine disorders. Hypertrophy of the thyroid gland leads to compression of the tissues of the throat, as a result of which the patient feels a strong burning sensation and dryness in the mucous membranes of the oropharynx.

The most common causes of endocrine diseases are:

iodine deficiency;
hormonal disorders;
oncological diseases;
autoimmune disorders;
relapses of colds.

Enlargement (hypertrophy) of the thyroid gland is most often signaled by difficulty swallowing, soreness and burning in the throat, swelling of the neck and lack of air. If a patient has a burning sensation in the throat due to the development of endocrine disorders, the problem can be eliminated by taking hormonal medications.

Treatment

What to do if there are other symptoms of heartburn in the throat? Heartburn must be treated regularly. Due to the presence of this disorder, it is necessary to change your lifestyle.

Heartburn pain can be completely eliminated with the help of a course of treatment and preventive measures.

Taking special medications for treatment. For example, non-absorbable anthracides.
Prokinetics and enzymes will help improve gastric motility.
Treatment with medications that reduce the production of hydrochloric acid and reduce high acidity.
Rejection of bad habits.
Following a diet and eliminating heavy exercise.
It is recommended to drink alkaline and mineral water.
Do not wear clothes that put pressure on the abdominal organs.

Very often, heartburn in the throat occurs in smokers. This is due to the fact that when smoking, smoke first enters the oral cavity, then ends up in the esophagus.

Resins negatively affect the gastric mucosa and sphincter. If heartburn occurs frequently, it is recommended to give up this bad habit.

It is important to learn to eat as much as is necessary for the body. Heartburn appears due to a problem in the functioning of the sphincter, and it, in turn, is destroyed due to frequent overeating.

The situation is aggravated if a person lies down on the bed after eating.

There are different methods of treatment. But it is better to combine several methods of restorative therapy.

The first step must be taken in the form of a complete cessation of smoking, alcoholic beverages and overeating. It is necessary to reduce the load after eating food.

How to treat a feeling of heat and burning in the larynx

Based on the etiology of the disease that caused the burning sensation in the throat, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment.

If the cause is inflammatory processes, then the prescribed medications are designed to destroy the causative microorganisms. These drugs include antibiotic medications or antiviral drugs.

If the patient just has a cold, but there are no accompanying symptoms - cough and fever - then you can get by with traditional medicine, for example, herbal infusions. In addition, you can connect inhalation and warming. If the patient's condition worsens, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

In case of allergic reactions, antihistamines are prescribed, and contact with the allergen should be avoided.

The most severe type of burning sensation in the throat is caused by cancerous formations. Since tumors arise in such a hard-to-reach place, it is sometimes quite difficult to perform surgery to eliminate them. In this case, there is only hope for radiation and chemotherapy. But for this, the disease must be diagnosed in the early stages. Therefore, it is important to immediately go to the hospital at the slightest suspicion and similar symptoms.

Traditional medicine for the treatment of heartburn in the throat

Heartburn in the throat is a very unpleasant symptom. You can eliminate it using folk recipes that have been known for a long time. There are a number of ingredients that have a positive effect on the walls of the stomach.

For example, it could be royal jelly, sea buckthorn or rosehip oil, propolis.

Each of these ingredients helps restore the walls of the stomach and saturate the body with vitamins and microelements.

Using raw cabbage leaves helps eliminate heartburn. It must be eaten raw throughout the day. They do this to eliminate the symptoms of heartburn and prevent this disease.
Gentian infusion. It is necessary to take the root of this plant, wash it well and clean it. Cut into small pieces and add 200 grams of hot boiled water. Leave in a dark, warm place overnight. This medicine should be taken before meals, 50 grams.
Potato juice. You need to grate a few potatoes and squeeze out the juice. Add a small amount of warm water to it. Take in the morning on an “empty” stomach. If there is heartburn in the throat, it is necessary to treat for a month, then take a break and you can take the juice again. This must be done until complete recovery. It can also be taken for preventive purposes.
Ginger. One of the most common treatment methods. To do this, you need to take ginger root and grate it on a fine grater, add hot boiled water. Approximately 1 teaspoon of ginger requires adding 200 grams of water. You need to take this medicine several sips at a time if you have heartburn in your throat.
Most people take baking soda when heartburn occurs. Doing this is strictly prohibited. Why? In most cases, it leads to a worsening of the situation. Anyway, it doesn't have to be permanent.

Baking soda really helps reduce acidity and eliminate heartburn. But by reacting with gastric juice, soda provokes the release of carbon dioxide and even greater heartburn.

In addition, soda helps retain water inside the body through causing swelling and increasing the load on the cardiovascular system.

Additionally, the following ingredients help eliminate heartburn well: non-carbonated alkaline mineral water, centaury tincture, herbal tea, vegetable oil in small quantities, almonds.

You can use carrot juice, but you need to prepare it fresh every day. You should always have pumpkin seeds, fresh or dried peas, walnuts, and viburnum berries with you on the road.

The use of traditional methods is necessary if heartburn occurs constantly. If these treatment methods do not produce positive results, additional medications must be taken.

Occupational pathologies

A burning sensation in the throat can occur in people whose work involves regular and prolonged strain on the vocal cords. This symptom can occur in professional speakers, lecturers, teachers, trainers, educators, etc. After a good party, where they had fun with songs and loud conversations, your throat may hurt, your voice may disappear, and dryness and soreness may appear in the throat area. The same thing often occurs among professional singers, actors, and hosts of entertainment events.

Also at risk are people who:

smoke a lot for a long time;
often feel stressed or depressed;
work in a contaminated industrial area (mill, working with building materials, etc.);
have chronic inflammation of the upper respiratory organs.

When a person, due to his professional activity, works with chemicals in hazardous work, he exposes his body to great risk. After all, at first there will be no unpleasant symptoms or signs of damage to the respiratory system - they will manifest themselves over time with various diseases that can be life-threatening

This is why it is so important to observe protective measures when doing this type of work, wearing masks and protective suits.

Medications

Treatment of heartburn in the throat must begin with identifying the causes of the disease. If you treat only the manifestation of heartburn itself, then it will still manifest itself periodically.

What should you expect from this disease? It can lead a person to very serious illnesses. For example, this may include dehydration, sudden weight loss, or narrowing in the esophagus.

If there is a lot of scarring, it can lead to the death of a person, and sometimes persistent heartburn can indicate the presence of stomach cancer.

There are several types of treatment for heartburn:

Homeopathic medicines. The active ingredient in these drugs is insignificant, just like the side effect.
Drugs to reduce the secretion of gastric juice. These may be Ranitidine, Famotidine.
Antacids. Help neutralize hydrochloric acid. These may be medications such as Gastal, Rennie, Maalox, and Almagel.
Antisecretory drugs. They are designed to reduce the formation of gastric juice. Famotidine, Noflux, Omeprazole.

During pregnancy, if you have heartburn, it is advisable to take medications such as Activated Charcoal or Smecta.

These are more natural preparations that can cleanse the digestive organs and eliminate excess toxins.

To improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, you need to take Pancreatin, Festal.

The presence of heartburn in the throat is a very unpleasant symptom. It must be eliminated by taking traditional medicine methods, medications and following the rules.

But it’s better than eliminating the disease itself to regularly engage in prevention.

Burning sensation in pregnant women

Heartburn is a common companion for pregnant women. Hormonal changes, an increase in progesterone levels, compression of the stomach - all this causes activation of the pathological process. Many medications are prohibited for pregnant women, especially in the first trimester. First of all, women are recommended to adjust their diet and lifestyle.

This may include reducing portions (overeating will only aggravate the condition), avoiding fatty, fried, spicy, smoked foods, limiting the consumption of vegetables that contain fiber: white cabbage, garlic, onions, radishes, radishes; at the first sign of a burning sensation, it is better to refuse from mushrooms, nuts, black bread, chocolate, strong tea and coffee.

Recommended foods for heartburn include oatmeal, milk, yogurt, kefir, and carrots. The daily menu should include thick puree soups, as well as viscous porridges. If the above recommendations are ineffective, pregnant women may be prescribed medications. Plant-based alginates are often used.

By chemically treating brown algae, it is possible to neutralize hydrochloric acid. This group of drugs relieves an attack of pain and does not damage the mucous membrane of the digestive organs. Alginates can be used throughout pregnancy. They are not absorbed, neutralize toxins, coat the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach, and also restore intestinal microflora.

Is heartburn normal or a symptom?

A burning sensation in the esophagus or larynx after eating is familiar to everyone, therefore, such a sensation is not necessarily a sign of illness.

Various reasons can cause heartburn in completely healthy people. Among them are products that can irritate the walls of the esophageal tube: sweets and spices, fresh garlic and onions, citrus fruits, tomatoes or dishes made from them.

Some foods (chocolate, too fresh brown bread, fried fatty foods) can also cause heartburn.

Other foods can decrease the tone of the sphincter that separates the stomach from the esophagus, promoting reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus.

Among them are peppermint, alcohol, caffeine-containing drinks (black tea, Coca-Cola). However, your food choices don't matter if you've overeaten, as this is one of the common causes of burning sensation.

Reduced pressure in the area of the lower esophageal sphincter promotes the vertical movement of gastric juice up the esophagus, which can also cause heartburn in completely healthy people in various situations: physical activity after eating, coughing, pressure in the abdominal area from tight clothing or belts.

The feeling of heartburn periodically occurs in people who are overweight or pregnant.

Heartburn may be the result of treatment for hypertension, bronchial asthma or heart disease, since some medications increase the permeability of the valve between the stomach and esophagus. By the way, smoking has the same effect.

Gastroesophageal reflux is promoted by lying down after eating, as well as bending forward - that’s why you shouldn’t run to exercise as soon as you’ve had lunch.

In all of the above cases, you just have to give up the foods or habits that cause discomfort for the heartburn to disappear without a trace.

When does heartburn stop being normal and become a symptom? For many people, a burning sensation in the throat and esophagus is not just an unpleasant feeling, but a painful experience that accompanies a significant part of life.

Pain and/or belching often characterize heartburn as a symptom. As a rule, there is one of the diseases of the digestive system.

Reviews

Dear readers, your opinion is very important to us - therefore, we will be glad to hear your feedback about burning in the esophagus in the comments, this will also be useful to other users of the site.

Lida

In the first trimesters of pregnancy, heartburn did not bother me, but at a later stage, heartburn and burning appeared, which rose from the chest into the throat and esophagus. Sour belching caused irritation of the mucous membrane, causing constant sore throat and cough. Since you can’t take medications during pregnancy, I solved the problem with the help of a traditional medicine recipe. I took carrot juice mixed with potato juice. This drink helped get rid of the unpleasant feeling and did not harm my child.

Lera

I caught a cold and took paracetamol for several days in a row. The drug caused stomach irritation, heartburn and a burning sensation in the throat and esophagus. After stopping the medication, a few days later, the acidity returned to normal and the symptom disappeared.

More information about heartburn

There are three types of heartburn:

a burning sensation in the throat, as a rule, will tell a specialist about malfunctions in both esophageal valves (sphincters);
burning behind the sternum due to malfunction of the lower esophageal valve. It is this type of heartburn that intensifies immediately after eating, while lying down or bending over;
A burning sensation in the stomach and esophagus is called epigastric heartburn. It is caused by duodenogastroesophageal reflux, in which the contents of the duodenum enter the stomach and esophagus.

Heartburn is not always a mild or severe burning sensation; some people experience it as pressure, fullness, warmth, or a lump that gets stuck on its way to the stomach.

Very severe heartburn can feel like pain in the heart area. In such cases, differential diagnosis is required to determine the cause of the patient's suffering - whether it is caused by heartburn or pain caused by diseases of the cardiovascular or nervous systems, in order to prescribe adequate treatment.

Video:

Heartburn can occur with low or no acidity, but most cases of heartburn occur in people with high stomach acidity.

That is why treatment of severe cases involves the use of drugs that suppress the production of hydrochloric acid.

Self-treatment of heartburn can be quite successful, but in some cases it is ineffective.

When a person comes to the pharmacy for “something for heartburn,” as a rule, he buys an antacid, which is effective in case of increased stomach acidity and useless if the acidity is normal or low.

For heartburn, various folk remedies are often used, for example, activated charcoal. It is almost harmless, but it is almost always useless as a way to get rid of a burning sensation.

Taking baking soda internally is another common method that helps neutralize acid, but reduces it too much, prompting the stomach to produce more, which can make the problem worse in the long run.

Milk or cabbage decoction works in much the same way. This effect is called acid rebound.

Digestive dysfunction

One of the diseases of the digestive system that can cause a burning sensation in the throat is gastroesophageal reflux disease. The occurrence of symptoms is due to the reflux of stomach contents into the esophageal lumen. Recently, the number of cases of GERD has increased significantly due to poor nutrition and late diagnosis of underlying diseases.

Normally, the lower esophageal sphincter prevents food from returning to the esophagus. When muscle fibers weaken, acidic gastric contents irritate the esophageal mucosa, which increases the risk of ulcerative defects.

The disease manifests itself symptomatically:

burning in the throat;
belching;
nausea;
difficulty swallowing.

Not so often, GERD causes chest pain, heaviness in the abdomen, increased salivation, hoarseness and bad breath. Without treatment, the pathology can be complicated by reflux esophagitis, scar formation in the esophagus, as well as Barrett's disease (a precancerous condition).

Diagnosis includes endoscopic examination (FGDS), biopsy of a suspicious area of the esophagus, and contrast-enhanced radiography.

Treatment includes:

compliance with dietary nutrition and regimen;
giving up alcohol;
abolition of medications that negatively affect motor skills (nitrates, antidepressants, hormonals, some antihypertensive drugs);
prescription of antacids;
taking proton pump inhibitors, for example, Omeprazole;
prescription of receptor blockers (ranitidine).

In 10% of cases, surgery is required. It is carried out in case of complicated course of the disease.